The sharp styling of Chevy’s subcompact Trailblazer makes a big statement, and its ample interior dispels any thoughts of being cramped.
There are two three-cylinder Trailblazer engines to choose from: a 137-horsepower 1.2-liter, and a 155-horsepower 1.3-liter. Both have standard front-wheel drive and are joined to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Opting for the 1.3-liter engine makes a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive available.
I drove a Trailblazer RS equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive, the top model in a lineup that also includes LS, LT, and Activ trims.
Trailblazer pricing starts at $23,295 for the LS trim with a $1,195 destination charge included. Chevy isn’t stingy with standard features on the LS, so it’s a bargain as automotive pricing goes. Working one’s way up the trim-level ladder accumulates lots of nice features, but simultaneously reduces the bargain quotient, of course. It’s a law of nature that the best blend of features and pricing is found within a car’s middle trim levels.
The top-tier Trailblazer RS is base-priced at $28,595. My test car was heaped with optional equipment, hoisting its bottom line past the $30,000 mark. The Technology Package ($1,620) is a definite keeper. Among its attractive features are an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, seven-speaker Bose premium audio, wireless device charging, adaptive cruise control, and excellent LED headlamps that really light up the unlit winding backroads of Snohomish County.
Trailblazer has five-passenger seating but realistically only four adults can travel comfortably. Rear-seat legroom is a generous 39.4 inches. With all seats in use, the cargo area is still a useful 25.3 cubic feet, and with seats folded, 54.4 cubic feet opens up. The front passenger seat also folds flat for even more cargo capability.
Interior design and function isn’t glamorous or tech-ridden, just a user-friendly and refreshing simplicity.
Trailblazer’s driving dynamics are in keeping with the interior’s understated theme. Fuel efficiency outshines acceleration. EPA ratings for the RS model with a 155-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive are 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. Ratings are several notches higher for the 137-horsepower engine and front-wheel drive.
The Chevy Trailblazer is unchanged for 2023 but new paint colors are available: Nitro Yellow Metallic, Fountain Blue, and Sterling Gray Metallic. An Iridescent Pearl Tricoat roof color is also new.
2023 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AWD RS
Base price, including destination charge: $28,595
Price as driven: $31,530
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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